African Payroll Compliance Software Gains Ground Across 8 Countries With Mediacent’s Payroll Master
A homegrown payroll tool is quietly rewriting the rules of cross-border business in Africa
Mediacent Interactive is carving out a space most global software firms have overlooked — payroll systems built for Africa’s tax and compliance realities. Its homegrown platform, Payroll Master, is now running in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, and Nigeria. Two more launches — South Sudan and Ethiopia — are already in the works. Unlike generic payroll tools, Payroll Master is tuned to each country’s tax rules, statutory deductions, and reporting requirements. When governments update payroll laws, the changes are reflected in the software as soon as they’re officially gazetted. That’s possible because Mediacent has in-country teams and works closely with tax and accounting advisors in every market it serves.
Standalone or Plugged Into Zoho
Companies can run Payroll Master on its own or integrate it directly into Zoho’s ERP suite. For Zoho customers, the link means employee data flows straight into payroll, calculations happen automatically, and the results feed back into accounting — no manual data entry needed. Zoho’s own payroll module works in India and the U.S., but there’s no native option for Africa. Mediacent stepped into that gap as Zoho’s first premium partner across East, Central, and West Africa, giving African businesses a compliant payroll option inside their existing Zoho setups. The price? KES 100 per employee per month, billed separately from any Zoho licensing.
A Footprint That Covers the Continent
Mediacent is part of the Adaptis Group, which also includes engineering, media, consulting, and education ventures. The company’s main office is in Nairobi, with regional bases in Lagos and Port Louis — a structure that allows it to operate effectively in East, West, and Southern Africa. Its mission statement — “Built in Africa, Engineered for the World” — underlines a strategy of using African market insight to build products that can compete anywhere. Beyond payroll, Mediacent delivers cloud-native, AI-powered ERP, IoT, and mobile systems designed to help African enterprises leapfrog older technologies.
Track Record in Enterprise Delivery
Through its CodeCraft division, Mediacent has logged over 400 hours designing and deploying ERP and enterprise systems, completing 50+ projects across industries. Businesses adopting its unified ERP solutions have reported up to 30% cost savings. Clients include TAMGO Tanzania Limited, Blackwood Hodge Kenya, CIFOR-ICRAF, ISAT Africa, Mirema School, and Empower New Energy — spanning sectors from education and manufacturing to NGOs and energy.
Compliance That Updates in Real Time
What sets Payroll Master apart is how it handles compliance. Mediacent’s partnerships with tax advisory firms in each country give it an early line of sight on policy changes. Once new rules are confirmed in the government gazette, they’re coded into the platform immediately. The aim is to keep businesses compliant without the scramble of manual system updates.
Growth Plans
Africa remains the main market, but Payroll Master has caught the attention of potential clients in Southeast Asia. According to Eric Muli, Executive Head at Mediacent Interactive, any move outside Africa will be client-led. “We can’t limit our growth,” he said, “but our focus is clear — Africa first.”
| Region | Countries Covered | Office Location | Key Client Sectors |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Africa | Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan (planned), Ethiopia (planned) | Nairobi, Kenya – The Apiary, ABC Place | Education, NGOs, Manufacturing, BFSI, Engineering |
| West Africa | Ghana, Nigeria | Lagos, Nigeria – Landmark Tower | Energy, Construction, Automotive, Professional Services |
| Central Africa | Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) | Operated remotely via Nairobi HQ & partners | Infrastructure, Telecommunications, Development Projects |
| Southern Africa | Zambia, Mauritius | Port Louis, Mauritius – Sir William Newton St. | Tourism, Trade, Enterprise IT, Logistics |
| Planned Expansion | Southeast Asia (market exploration phase) | No physical office yet | Cross-border payroll and ERP integration |
Muli sees business process mapping and workflow optimization as critical to making payroll and ERP systems truly work for African businesses. “We’re not just deploying tools. We’re building systems that fit the way our clients operate,” he said.
Partner Network
Mediacent runs a referral program that pays 25% of a client’s annual license fee for three years. The model has drawn interest from HR consultants, accounting firms, and ERP implementation partners. Being the most certified Zoho partner in Africa also helps — many clients come in for Zoho deployments and stay for Payroll Master once they see the integration benefits.
Why It Matters
Payroll in Africa is complicated — tax laws vary wildly, rules change without much notice, and cross-border operations often mean juggling multiple systems. A single platform that’s cloud-based, instantly updated, and tailored to local law cuts both cost and compliance risk. By focusing on this space, Mediacent isn’t just building software — it’s filling a gap that global SaaS providers have left open, and in doing so, it’s backing its bigger vision: an Africa where every idea can scale globally in real time.
Go to TECHTRENDSKE.co.ke for more tech and business news from the African continent.
Follow us on WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future updates. Send tips to editorial@techtrendsmedia.co.ke
TechTrends Media Podcasts
